Obama’s State Of the Union Address Gives Shout-Out to Gay Soldiers

President Obama’s State of the Union Address Tuesday night emphasized a need for moving forward together, or not at all, especially in regards to industry and education. And, although the subject of same-sex marriage was avoided by Obama and Republican responder Rep. Paul Ryan, the Commander-in-Chief specifically tipped his hat to the countless gay and lesbian service members fighting overseas for the country they love.

“Our troops come from every corner of this country,” the President said, “They are black, white, Latino, Asian and Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And, yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. And with that change, I call on all of our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and the ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one nation.”

Many college campuses had refused military recruiters and ROTC on the grounds of the military’s discrimination of LGBT service members, among other reasons, but with the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, there’s now less reason to do so. And more reasons than ever to join together to move forward because, as Robert Kennedy said, and as President Obama quoted, “The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.”